In sitting down and thinking of folk artists I really like, it became apparent to me that folk is the red-headed stepchild everyone loves to criticize, but secretly enjoys. Very few artists are “folk.” James Taylor was clearly a folkie underneath his porous shield of vulnerability, yet he’s considered a singer/songwriter. The Byrds, The Band and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young all were examples of bands that took folk roots (such as multi-part harmonies and 12 string acoustic guitars) and branched out into a more traditional rock sound and Johnny Cash first and foremost was country. But I am here to glorify some guys that, although they may dabble in other genres, are folk through and through.
Bob Dylan is the most important single person in music since the 60s. Period. The Beatles may have been more popular, the Stones had more swag and Zeppelin was more talented, but as an individual no one influenced music more than Dylan. On one hand, he was a traditional folk singer, a common man against the world as he became a leader of the counterculture movement with such songs as “Blowing in the Wind” and “The Times They are A Changin”. Upon seeing just just how wild the Beatles could make the ladies, he went electric and spawned folk rock. Even later, Dylan borrowed the use of the 12 string guitar and helped to create yet another genre, country rock. That being said, Dylan remains a folk icon. (The video below is included just because it’s one of the funniest things I’ve seen).
Going in a whole new direction, Mumford and Sons are a folk band and one of my favorite bands of the past year or two. You may have just heard the name or maybe listened to “Little Lion Man” on the radio but I’m here to tell you to listen to more. The band has a unique lineup. Lead singer Marcus Mumford usually plays acoustic guitar, singing and also doing percussion with a kick drum (Letterman joked that they would take the money from going on his show to buy a real drummer) and the band also includes a banjo, stand up bass and a keyboardist. However, they still do change things up a bit as someone will sometimes get on the drumkit and the electric bass will occasionally make an appearance and in the following video, the electric banjo becomes something of an electric guitar.
The Music Court 